#LetItGo

The topic of forgiveness came up several times this week. There was a difference of opinion with someone and the conversation about it that followed. There was a completely unrelated talk with a different friend about their argument with someone. Then there was a butterfly...

While having a difference of opinion via text message with someone, I described my thoughts to a friend I was with. "I don't have to argue. I don't have to get them to understand my point of view. I don't have to be right. All I need to do is walk away," I said.

It struck me as funny how simple that was, yet how challenging that can be sometimes - to just walk away. Oftentimes when we "let it go" or walk away, we do it with an attitude or judgement toward the other party. I meant just really letting go though, without any harsh feelings.

It's easy to stew about some perceived injustice and complain to anyone who will listen. It's easy to walk away and decide that the other person is a _____ (insert undesirable name here). What about actually respecting their perception or circumstance as different than ours, not better or worse?

"To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it."

- Confucious

"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."

- Mahatma Gandhi

Drawing upon what I learned from audio books and seminars I recently listened to (Co-Creating At Its Best, Wayne Dyer, Esther Hicks; The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle; Sacred Contracts and Archtypes, Carolyn Myss), I practiced shifting my thoughts and letting go. I actually felt lighter when I did.

"Resentments are burdens we don't need to carry."

 - Anon.

"Anger dwells only in the bosom of fools."

- Albert Einstein

"Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned."

- Buddha

The next day, someone else I know described an argument that they just had with someone. We talked about refocusing thoughts in a way that would allow any negativity to float away like a butterfly.

Today, a butterfly fluttered across my path as I was pulling out of the driveway. It was big and yellow and beautiful, and danced away into a neighbor's yard as I stopped the car to watch it.

Here's to a beautiful new week... light, fresh, new...  and free...

Namaste,
T

Let It Snow

Well, there’s no denying it anymore…

It’s not exactly my favorite time of year – when the patio furniture and the bikes get put away, the sky goes gray and the night comes early.

“A lot of people like snow. 

I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water.” 

– Carl Reiner

I’ve been searching for something  positive… Soup is good. :)

As I dig out the winter coats, boots and scarves, I’ll try to keep focused on the positive. I’ll find some of my favorite soup recipes, get the Crock-Pot going, fill up the house with the smell of cinnamon apples, and replace my dresser drawer of shorts with long sleeve shirts that I forgot I had.

There’s no use in complaining. I’ll keep finding things to appreciate and smile when I do. Maybe I’ll make a snowman.

I’ll wear my Gryffindor sweatshirt. I’ll look around outside and remember the crystal shaped beauty in a single flake of snow, then zoom out and realize how much beauty surrounds us. I’ll place battery operated candles in all the windows and smile when I come home at night to see their glow.

It’s just winter. It’s not that bad. It’s not really bad at all.  :) 

Namaste,

T

Like Magic...

I was tired. I didn't know how I was going to muster up the strength to get through the whole, four-hour-long, high-energy gig without anyone noticing my exhaustion.

A friend had sent me a selfie as I was leaving the house. I tried to send one back, but none of them were coming out well. I thought, "Geez, I look terrible." I was wearing my fatigue outwardly.

But then something amazing happened. After the long drive through the beautiful Hudson Valley and a very pleasant encounter with the nicest valet guy ever, I began to feel a little better. Upon greeting the other singer and some of the musicians, we started kidding around and laughing. By the start of the gig, I felt a LOT better. The crowd turned out to be the sweetest group of lively, friendly people, the staff was smiling and happy, my bandmates were the greatest bunch of guys (besides being awesome musicians), and I was absolutely thrilled to be a part of the whole event family. I had a fabulous time! No one would've guessed that I had started off the day so sluggish - including me! LOL.

"We cannot live only for ourselves. 

A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow man."

- Herman Melville

L to R: John, Chris, Me, Paul, Harvey, Doug

Being a part of that fellowship was truly energizing - such an uplifting experience. I drove home with a profound sense of happiness and an energetic spirit, grateful to have been surrounded by such wonderful, positive energy. Also, I was reminded that we are exactly as we believe we are. Somewhere along the way, I had stopped thinking that I was tired and started thinking that I was going to have a lot of fun.

"Every thought we think is creating our future."

- Louise Hay

"All that we are is the result of what we have thought. 

The mind is everything. What we thnk, we become."

- Buddha

"The words, 'I am...' are potent words; be careful what you hitch them to. 

The thing you're claiming has a way of reaching back and claiming you."

- A.L. Kitselman

I'll listen carefully to my thoughts this week. If I start telling myself "I am tired" or anything I wish not to be, I'll replace it with something more like, "I am going to have a great day!" It's just a thought, after all. It can be changed - like magic.

Namaste,

T

Do It Anyway

Don't you just love it when you find exactly the right sentiment on a Facebook post? I had several conversations early in the week about energies that we find challenging, and about bullies. It seemed that the mere fact that they exist at all can put a damper on our spirit; regardless of their ability, or inability, to actually affect the circumstances of our lives.  Then I saw a post attributed to Mother Teresa. The following is said to have been written on the wall at Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta, India and is thought to be based on "The Paradoxical Commandments" by Dr. Kent M. Keith:

People are often unreasonable, irrational and self-centered. 

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. 

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. 

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. 

Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. 

Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. 

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today will often be forgotten. 

Do good anyway. 

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. 

Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. 

It was never between you and them anyway.

After spending some time digesting the words, I decided to adopt the philosophy, and simply refused to allow any negativity or opposing energy forces into my stream of consciousness. Why give them another thought, if I'm just going to do as the poem suggests anyway? 

#Irrelevant #LetItGo #ImInChargeOfMe

Saturday's gig was great fun! Outstanding musicianship, great songs, kind hearted people, and fantastic vocal performers made for an inspiring and joyous time on the bandstand. My heart was filled with a strong and happy spirit. 

Today (Sunday as I write this), the minister at service said things like, "It's all about the energy," and "The primary relationship is with the self," and "Respond to darkness with high vibratory response." Then after church, I found this quote from James Allen's essay "As a Man Thinketh":

Cherish your visions; cherish your ideals; 

cherish the music that stirs in your heart, 

the beauty that forms in your mind, 

the loveliness that drapes your purest thoughts, 

for out of them will grow all delightful conditions, 

all heavenly environment; 

of these, if you but remain true to them, 

your world will at last be built.

This week, I will fill my thoughts and spirit with the music of my heart. I will not allow the existence of opposing energy forces to distract me from the essence of my true nature. I will be my authentic self and build my world on those joys and inspirations from within. Shadow or fear may try to creep in, darkening my thoughts, spirit, and maybe even my health; but Light and Love will prevail as I choose to "do it anyway." We need only turn on a light, to make a shadow disappear.

Namaste,

T

OMG! Look at the video I just found... I love it!